Electric controlling and locking mechanism for railway switches and signals



(No Model.) A '5' Sheets-Sheet 1.

. G. M. WILDER.

ELECTRIC CONTROLLING AND LOCKING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY I SWITCHES ANDSIGNALS. I

No. 501,701. Patented July 18,1893.

I! J3 {S I? I I Q F, W m E] I N 5 H 9L k S g} (No Model. 5 Sheets-Sheet21 O. M. WILDER.

BLEGTNIO CONTROLLING AND LOOKING MEGHANISM F SWITO'HES AND SIGNALS;

No. 501,701. PatentedJi11'y 18,=1893.

0R RAILWAY J N N5 (Q m we Wiiiae-ra'ea p f a 4, 'M;

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. 0. M. WILDER. V ELEGTRIG CONTROLLING-ANDLOOKING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY SWITGHES AND SIGNALS."

Patented July 18,

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

0'. M. WILDER. ELECTRIC CONTROLLING AND LOCKING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAYSWITCHES AND SIGNALS.

No. 501,701.. V Patented July 18, 1893'.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

G. M. WILDER. ELECTRIC CONTROLLING AND LOCKING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAYSWITCHES AND SIGNALS No. 501,701. Patented July 18, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES MORRISVVILDER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ELECTRIC CONTROLLING AND LOCKlNG MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY SWITCHESANDSIGNALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Yatent No. 501,701, dated July 18,1893.

Application filed October 17, 1892. Serial No. 449,092. (No model.)

T0 at whom it'may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES MORRIS WILD- ER,a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at Oincinnati,in the county of Hamilton andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric Controlling and Locking Mechanism for Railway Switches andSignals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to systems for controlling and locking electricrailway switches,

or signals or both, and it consists in an electrical interlocking systemof circuit controlling devices whereby the position of a switch railcontrols dependent switch or single circuits or both, through the agencyof electromagnets and their armatures; in means for preventing theestablishment of the switch or signal circuits or both until thedependent switch rails are locked in position; in a signal motor cut outand catch whereby the motor is cut out of circuit after it has actuatedthe signal and the signal is held at clear after the motor has beenputout; and in electrical provisions for preventing the throwing of thedistant signal until the home signal has been brought to clear. Forcomplete working the system includes a source of electricity, a stationin which is an operating case which contains magnets, indicating andcontrolling devices, circuit terminals and operating levers; switch andsignal throwing devices; track boxes; a system of electric circuits;motors for operating the signals, and, preferably, motors for operatingthe switches.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the variouscircuitsand connections, the trains running in one direction andgoverned by a home signal for each track, main and branch, and a distantsignal for the main. track. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the switchthrowing mechanism. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the track box. Fig. 4 is afront view of the signal throwing mechanism showing the signal at block.Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a section on line66 of Fig. i a portion of the mechanism being broken away to show themotor cut-out mechanism and catch. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the switchlocking device showing the switch locked and contact closed. Fig. 8 is alike view showing the switch unlocked and contact open; Fig. 9 anelevation of the signal motor cut-out andcatch showing the signal atblock; Fig. 10 alike view showing the signal at clearg Fig. 11 anelevation showing the distant signal controlling device in the positionitoccupies when the home signal is at block; Fig. 12 alike view when thehome signal is at clear. Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of the variouscircuits and connections showing signal and switch circuits controlledby a switch indicator circuit.

T represents the main track; T a branch track; J J and J switch rails; Ga source of electricity; L a common lead; It a common return; R B &c.,return branches for switch indicator circuits; B B &c., hand operatedcircuit controllers; M M &c., electro-magnets; A, A, &;c., armatures; WW &c., armature counterweights; P P 850., armature pivots; F, Findicating faces on armatures; C C &c., circuit contact terminals, shownas mercury cups; c 0 &c., circuit terminal closers; X, X", X switchboxes; Y, Y Y track boxes; Z, Z Z 7 signal boxes; D D, D switch motors;D D D signal motors; S, S, S signals provided with counterweightsadapted to return them to their normal positions; 0 0 ,0 0 O and Ocircuitterminals in the track boxes; 0 connecting strip in track boxes;0 ,0 0 circuit terminals in the switch boxes; .0 O and O circuitterminals in the signal boxes; closed by the signal when at block; 0circuit terminals in signal box Z closedby the signal when at clear; 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 'Z', 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 electric circuits.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, circuit 1, containing magnet. Mstarts from lead L, goes to contact terminal 0 in track box Y, thence byR to contact terminal 0 in switch box X and thence by R to generator G.Circuit 2, containing magnet M starts from lead L, goes to contactterminal 0 in track box Y, thence by R to contact terminal 0 in switchbox X, and thence by R to generator G. Circuit 3, containing magnet Mstarts from lead L, goes to contact terminal 0 in signal box Z thence tocontact terminals 0 in box Z and thence by R to generator, G. Circuit 4,containing magnet M starts from lead L, goes to contact terminals 0 insignal box Z and thence by R to generator G. Circuit 5, containingcontact terminals B C C C C starts from lead L, goes to switch motor Dand thence by R to generator G. Circuit 6, containing contact terminals13 C C starts from lead L, goes to signal motor D and thence by R togenerator G. Circuit 7, containing contact terminal B C C starts fromlead L, goes to signal motor D and thence by R to generator G. Circuit'7starts from circuit 7, goes to contactterminals in box Z thence tosignal motor D in box Z and thence by R to generator G.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 13, circuit 5, containing terminals B CC Chand C starts from lead L and goes to switch motor D Circuit 6,containing terminals B, C, 'C C starts from lead L and goes to signalmotor D Circuit 7, containing terminals B C C, C starts from lead L andgoes to signal motor D Circuit 9 starts from lead L, follows the path ofcircuit 5 to Q, thence through E", C to switch motor D Circuit startsfrom lead L, follows the path of circuit 9 to Q and goes throughterminals B and C to switch m otor D Circuit 11, containing magnet Mstarts from lead L, goes to O in box Y thence by R to terminals O intrack box X thence by R to generator G. Circuit 12, containingmagnet Mstarts from lead L, goes to terminals 0 in track box Y thence by R toterminals 0 in switch box X thence by R to generator G. Circuit 13,containing magnet M starts from lead L, goes to terminals 0 in track boxY thence by R to terminals 0 in switch box X thence by R to generator G.Circuit 14, containing magnet M starts from lead L, goes to terminals Oin track box Y thence by R to terminals 0 in switch box X thence by R togenerator G.

Circuits 1 and 2 are controlled by the posi- -tion of the switch railand control respectively circuits 7 and 6 through contact terminals Cand C Circuit 3is controlled by the position of signal S and closesvcircuits 5, 9 and 10 at 0. Circuit 4 is controlled by the position ofsignal S and closes circuits 5, 9 and 10 at C Circuit 5 is controlled bycircuits 3, 4, 12 and 14 andthrough it the switch motor D is operated.Circuit 6 is controlled by circuits 2, l2 and 13 and through itsignalmotor D is operated. Circuit 7 is controlled by circuits 1, 11 and 14and through it signal motor D is operated. Circuit 7'is controlled bycircuits 1, 11 and 14, and by the signal S and through it signal motor Dis operated. Circuit 9 is controlled by circuit- 12 and through itswitch motor D" is operated. Circuit 10is controlled bycircuit 14 andthrough it switch motor D is operated. Circuit 11 is controlled by theposition of switch J and closes circuit 7 at C. Circuit 12 is controlledby the position of switch J and closes circuit 5 at C circuit 6 at C andcircuit 9 at 0 Circuit 13 is controlled by the position of switch J andcloses circuit 6 at C Cirtory transmitting links, devices for,converting rotary into reciprocating movement, a crank and pitmanconnected with the switch rails, a notched disk fixed to the crankshaft, a locking arm with a lug adapted to take into the notches, atripping arm and drop catch for unlocking the disk.

In Figs.7 and 8 I have shown the mechan- V ism for preventing theestablishment of the controlling and indicating circuits until thedependent switch rails are locked in position. N represents a' diskfixed upon the crank shaft of the switch throwing mechanism and havingtwodiametrically opposite notches n, n adapted to receive a lug k on aswinging locking arm H pivoted at P. This mechanism and its operationare described in the above-named Letters Patent. H is a leg extendingfrom arm H and moving with it and carrying connecting strip 0 adapted toconnect terminals 0 in circuit R, R, R being common to circuits 1 and 2and connecting one side of terminals 0 O and 0 The leg H is so mountedthat connecting strip 0 will engage with the terminal 0 when the lug 71.is in its locking position and then only.

The track box mechanism, as shown in Fig. 3, consists of two pairs ofcontacts 0 and O which are arranged to be closed by a conducting strip 0in mechanical connection with and sliding with, the switch rail and soadjusted that one pair of contacts is closed when the switch railreaches one of its terminal positions and the other when the switch railreaches the opposite position.

The preferred mechanism for actuating and indicating the signalsconsists of an electric motor D gyratory transmitting links, a rockshaft V actuated thereby,a signal blade connected with and actuated bythe rock shaft,

and contact terminals 0 which are controlled by a connecting-strip 0operated by the rock shaft and adjusted to be closed only when thesignal is at block. This portion of the mechanism is described and shownin Letters Patent of the United States No. 427,361, granted JosephRamsey, J r., May 6, 1890. To the rock shaft V is secured a segmentalcam w. H is an arm pivoted at P provided with a lug h and preferablyslightly spring pressed against the segmental cam. This arm carries thecontact strip 0 and armature A of magnet M Magnet M is in parallelcircuit with motor D in circuit 7. The circuit terminals 0 O are inmotor shunt of circuit 7 so that when circuit 7is broken at O 0 themotor D is cut out of circuit while magnet M remains in circuit. Rockshaft V also carries an arm 0 to which is attached the IZC connectingstrip-o which closes'the terminals 0 in circuit 7 This arm 40 is so setthatit closes these terminals only when the signal is at clear. Figs; 4,5, 6, 9 and 11 represent the position of this mechanism when the signalis at block. positions when at clear. In these figures the connectionsare shown for signal S but the arrangement shown in Figs. Qand 10 is thesame for all the signals, circuit 7 and motor D becoming circuits 6 and7' and motor D becoming motors D and D for-signals S and S".

In order to set the switch for the branch track the operator breakscircuit 7 by means of circuit controller 13 the catching magnets ofsignals S and S are demagnetized and the signals thereby released andbrought to block by their counterweights breaking circuit 7 at O andclosing terminals 0 of circuits7 and 7' and closing circuit 3 at O and 0thereby completing circuit 3 and energizing magnet M This attracts itsarmature A and closes terminals C C of circuit 5. Circuit 5 may then becompleted by depressing circuit controller 13 mm switch J will be thrownto its opposite position by-motor D and its connections. the locking lugis withdrawn from its locking position and again made when the lug takesinto the opposite locking notch and switch rail J is locked in its newposition. Circuit 1 is now broken at terminal 0 in box Y, its magnet Mdemagnetized and, by the action of the counterweight W of armature Acircuit 7 is broken at 0 Contact terminals 0 in box Y of circuit 2 arenow closed and, since terminals 0 are closed, the magnet M is en-'ergized and its armature A attracted and terminals C of circuit 6thereby closed by connecting strip c Circuit controller 13 may now beraised breaking circuit 5 without changing the position of switch J. Bydepressing circuit controller B circuit 6 is completed and signal S isbrought to clear thereby breaking-circuit 4: at O and demagnetizing Mwhereby by the action of counterweight V circuit 5 is broken at C Itwill be seen that circuit 7 cannot be completed at B because it isbroken at C and circuit 5 cannot be completed at B because it is brokenat C Hence no signal can be given unless the switch rail is locked inits proper position and the switch rail cannot be moved unless alldependent signals are at block. By breaking circuit 6 at B signal S isreleased and brought to block, by the action of its counterweight,closing terminals 0 and thereby completing circuit 4 and energizingmagnet M closing terminals C in circuit 5. By closing B the switchrail'J may be set and locked for the main track, circuits 1 and 2 thenbeing respectively completed and broken as shown and terminals C and Crespectively, closed and open as shown in Fig. 1. All signals now beingat block, by depressing circuit controller B circuit 7 is completed,magnet M is ener- Figs. 10 and 12 represent the- Circuit terminals '5are broken as 'gized and the signal motor D set inmotion.

This rocks shaft V and rocks signal S, to

V clear. Rockshaft V carries wit-hit segment 12 and arm '0 and, as itreaches the clear position lug h is drawn under segment 4) by theactionof magnet M thereby breaking cm cuit 7 at O and cutting out the signalmotor.

The rock shaft and signal are locked against return to their normalposition by thelug h until magnet M is demagnetized, The circuitterminals 0 are closed by strip 0 of arm 12 as the signal'reaches clear.7 This completes circuit 7and the distant signal S is brought to clearand its signal motor likewise cut out andthe signal held at clear byaction of a magnet. When circuit7 is broken the magnets are demagnetizedand the signal counterweights return the signals to block, break thecontact atterminals O and, acting through the rock shaft and segmentalcam, force the lug 71 from under the segmental cam and force connectingstrip 0 on arm H in to'contact with terminals 0 thereby connectingterminals O in circuit 7 and likewise in 7. The action in all thesignals is the same except that the home signals only are arranged tocontrol the distant signals.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 13, in

order to set the switches for the branch track,

the operator breaks circuit 7 by means of circuit controller B Signals Sand a S are brought to block, circuit 7' broken at O terminals O ofcircuits 7 and 7 closed, circuit 3 closed at O and 0' andtherebycompleted,

and magnet M magnetized, thereby closing circuit 5 at terminals C C aspreviously del scribed. Switch J may now be set-for the branch track bydepressing key B and, as previously described, the magnet M isdemagnetized, circuit 7 broken at C C and the magnet M energized andterminals C C of circuit 6 closed. Before switch J 2 can be closed, toallow a train to run over the branch, switch J must be opened since theworking,

or motor circuits, of D and-D are controlled track box Y magnet Mdemagnetized, and

circuit 7 broken at C, CZmagnet M is energized and contact terminals C0' and C in circuits 5, 6 and 9, closed. Circuit- 9 may now be completedby depressing key B Switch J 2 is then closed, the contacts 0 and O intrack box Y respectively opened and closed, and the circuits l4 and 13like wise respectively opened and closed, magnet M demagnetized,circuits 5, 7 and 10 broken at C C and C magnet M energizedand terminalsC of circuit 6 closed. 'By depressing key B,*signal S is brought toclear, circuit 4 being broken as-the signal leaves its block positionand thereby breaking circuit 5 at'terminals 0 No signal or switch cannow be moved until signal S is returned to the block position and Menergized, closing 0 Then switch J may be set for the main track butswitch J cannot be moved until after J 'has been opened. These havingbeen accomplished in the order named, the signals S S 1 may be clearedby depressing the key B As a matter of convenience I have termed theswitch motor circuits 5, 9 and 10, and the signal motor circuits 6,7-and 7 working circuits and the circuits through which these circuitsare governed controlling circuits.

I claim- 1. In an interlocking system a railway switch, electricalterminals controlled thereby, one or more controlling circuits leadingfrom the terminals, elect-ro-magnets in these circuits, one or moreworking circuits, terminals in the working circuits adapted to becontrolled by the action of the magnets and other terminals adapted tobe controlled by the operator.

2. In an interlocking system, a railway switch; two pairs of electricalterminals controlled thereby; two electrical circuits each containing apair of said terminals; an electro magnet in each of said circuits;armatures for said magnets carrying terminal closers; other switches orsignals or both; electrical circuits leading to and adapted to operatesaid switches or signals; terminals in these circuits controlled by theaction of the magnet armatures, and terminals within said circuitsadapted to be controlled by the operator.

3. In an interlocking system a railway switch, electrical terminalscontrolled thereby, controlling circuits leading from the terminals,terminals within these circuits, a locking device, a strip controlled bythe locking device to connect said terminals, electro-magnets in thecontrolling circuits, working circuits, and terminals in the workingcircuits adapted to be controlled by the magnets.

4. In an electrical interlocking system a switch motor circuit, one ormore switch indicator circuits and asignal circuit controlled thereby.

5. In an electrical interlocking system a switch motor circuit, one ormore switch indicator circuits and a switch circuit controlled thereby.

6. In anelectrical interlocking system a switch motor circuit, oneormore switch indicator circuits and one or more signal and switchcircuits controlled thereby.

7. In an electrical controlling and locking system a signal, a motor foroperating the signal, mechanism for holding the signal after it has beenmoved and an electro-magnet for cutting the motor out and controllingthe signal holding mechanism.

8. In an electric controlling and locking systerm a signal, a motor foroperating the signal, a segmental cam arranged to rock with the signal,a pivoted armature arm carrying a lug adapted to engage with and lockthe cam against return movement, an electric circuit leading to themotor, terminals in this circuit, a connecting strip on the pivoted armand an electro-m agnet for actuating the pivoted arm.

9. In an electric controlling and locking systerm a signal, one or moredependent signals, motors for actuating the signals, an electric circuitleading to the dependent signal motor or motors a rock shaft, governedby the position of the primary signal, and an arm extending therefromcarrying a connecting strip, adapted to close the dependent signalcircuit or circuits.

10. In an electric controlling and locking system a signal, one or moredependent signals, motors for actuating the signals, an electric circuitleading to the dependent signal motor or motors a rock shaft governed bythe position of the primary signal, and an arm extending therefrom andcarrying aconnecting strip arranged to close the circuit when theprimary signal has been brought to clear.

CHARLES MORRIS WILDER.

Witnesses:

JAMES N. RAMSEY, BENJAMIN BLooK.

